Russian Foreign Ministry: Western Pressures on Central Asia Threaten Projects in the Region

Russian news agency "Novosti" reported today that Dmitry Bertchevski, the Director of Economic Cooperation at the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated that "the pressures from the European Union and Washington on Central Asian countries regarding anti-Russian sanctions threaten the implementation of projects in the region." He explained that "these pressures on friendly countries in the region have forced them to join the anti-Russian sanctions and reduce trade and economic cooperation with our country." He added: "Such actions by the United States and its allies represent a blatant interference in the bilateral relations of our countries, effectively violating the right to independently establish foreign policies and external economic lines, and threaten the execution of mutually beneficial projects in Central Asia." Meanwhile, European Council President Charles Michel noted that "the European Union seeks to engage in dialogue with Central Asian countries regarding compliance with sanctions against Russia, but it intends to take action against those who help circumvent them. Sanctions will be directed against those who provide support to Russia, which the EU may consider assistance to the Russian defense sector."